Cricket 3 years ago

Preview: England Vs New Zealand - 2nd ODI

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is what best sums up a historical yet gobsmacking day at Edgbaston. As New Zealand were blown to all parts of the ground courtesy of a belligerent England, the Cricketing gods laughed, and the world - as we know it - was stunned. Who would have seen it coming? Yes, you could have sensed a different, more aggressive England, but a performance as this - a 210 run victory - could never have been predicted, not in an ideal world at least.

Having drubbed the Kiwis, England now reside right on top of the Moon. They have made their fans drink a "philtre" in that special win, and so the game of Cricket is starting to feel loved at its home again. New Zealand, meanwhile have some work to do - mentally in particular - if they are to come back in the series when the two teams move to The Kia Oval in London to play the second of the five ODIs in what is already an enthralling series.

England:

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England were well and truly magnificent at Edgbaston. Having lost a wicket first ball, they could have gone back into the shell - as they have often done - but instead, they gave Baz and company, a worse treatment than what the home side themselves received at The Cake Tin some months ago in a group stage WC match. England kept coming at New Zealand and they had no answers, it's as simple as that. First Joe Root and Alex Hales, then Joe Root and Eoin Morgan, and finally, Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid played butchers' role, the Black Caps being those poor animals being sliced.

Difference wasn't the players, it was the mindset and the mentality they came out with. England played their strokes with freedom, and and without any fear whatsoever - something that New Zealand have done all this time on a consistent basis and hence the longevity of their their success-filled period. Eoin Morgan and his "guys" too must now ensure consistency and the same level of intensity as well if they are to double the lead at The Oval, or it will be the visitors who run away with the game, and maybe the series.

Line-up: England should name an unchanged XI for the 2nd ODI for obvious reasons; they are just coming on the back of a special win, and there's no need to make a change to the winning combination.

New Zealand:

You can't blame New Zealand too much for being battered and bruised, it was just that England were way too good for anyone to be able to handle them. All eyes now are set on how Brendon McCullum's men respond from hereon following a near insult at Edgbaston. The 210-run defeat was almost a repeat of that first test at Lord's where NZ failed to put the game to bed when the opportunity came. Henceforth, it's this habit of closing the game down in key moments that the world cup runners-up need to be focusing upon.

Come Friday, a test would await New Zealand in the form of a rampant England team hungry for more success, meaning the Kiwis would have to be right on top of their game if they are to level the series. Also, it's important that New Zealand shrug that defeat off as just a bad day, or things could start to look complicated.

Line-up: Mitchell McClenaghan was probably the worst bowler on the day. Although all bowlers received a harsh treatment, McClenaghan was awful and might not be picked, not especially after considering that Tim Southee is totally fit and raring to have a go at England. Else, there isn't a change in sight to this NZ team.

The Pitch

It could be yet another run fest if the rain stays away on Friday. Though the pitch will have a lot of bounce on offer, it won't probably swing too much, and the surface will be dry as always, which means batsmen will love to bat on it.